This view [Semi-Pelagian] emphasized the role of free will in that the first steps of salvation is in the power of the individual, without the need for divine grace That is a gross misrepresentation (and, of course, you copied it from Wikipedia almost word by word; btw, Wikipedia has been already cited as a source of many erroneous and misleading entries).
The Orthodox Church states
Faith is the path along which God and the human person encounter each other. It is God who makes the first step: He fully and unconditionally believes in the human person and gives him a sign, an awareness of His presence. We hear the mysterious call of God, and our first step towards an encounter with Him is a response to this call. God may call us openly or in secret, overtly or covertly. But it is difficult for us to believe in Him if we do not first heed this call
Semi-Pelagian was condemned heretical by the Council of Orange of 529 AD...Although Cassian's view was considered heretical, Cassian remained in the Church and, subsequently became a saint due to some things that he did for the Pope
The Council of Orange was a local council and could not proclaim anyone heretical on behalf of the whole Church. You have been shown this to be so in the past but you persist in your error. The fact that +Cassian remained in the Church is no different than +Augustine remaining in the Church, as both have taught things which was not universally accepted in the entire Church.
The Church always held that our salvation is incumbent on Resurrection, and God's grace. Since Pelagian denied grace, he was condemned (anathematized) as a heretic. Semi-Pelagianism does not deny grace and is therefore not a heresy.
(and, of course, you copied it from Wikipedia almost word by word;)...The Orthodox Church states "Faith is the path along which God and the human person encounter each other. It is God who makes the first step:..
I'm not talking about what the Orthodox Church believes. I'm talking about what Semi-Pelagian is. Surely you're not suggesting the Orthodox view is semi-Pelagian are you? ;O)
It is God who makes the first step: He fully and unconditionally believes in the human person and gives him a sign, an awareness of His presence. We hear the mysterious call of God, and our first step towards an encounter with Him is a response to this call. God may call us openly or in secret, overtly or covertly. But it is difficult for us to believe in Him if we do not first heed this call
Sure, but as you stated you have to take a step towards Him. Under who's power do you take that first step, your's or His'? He reveals Himself but who has to move?
The Council of Orange was a local council and could not proclaim anyone heretical on behalf of the whole Church.
Well, they certainly did a lot of "cursing" for being a "local" council which, btw, convened in France. I will say this about the Council of Orange, while it condemned semi-Pelagius, it fell short of the full view of Augustine. Free discloser for Marysecretary; John Cassian is highly regarded in the Orthodox Church as much as Augustine was in the western church. Pelagius believed there was no such think as Original Sin. Neither does the Orthodox. I would be interested in knowing if Cassian believed in Original Sin.
If one understands Augustine and the western view position of Original Sin, then they understand that no matter how much God shines a light into our dark hearts, we will never take that step. God has to spiritually change us to want to take that step. That is what the difference is all about.